In the offseason, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald received accolades for his team’s additions, but he should also receive criticism. The Devils suffered another humiliating defeat to the Detroit Red Wings, and Devils supporters are seeing echoes of 2020 and 2021. What exactly occurred to the 2023-24 Devils?
When you look at the forward core for this year and the future, you can see why Fitzgerald was regarded as one of the league’s finest. The core has long been locked up. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt have signed long-term contracts. Erik Haula, a depth player, is also signed for a few more seasons at a very low cap hit. Tyler Toffoli and Tomas Nosek replaced players like Miles Wood, Jesper Boqvist, and Tomas Tatar. The forward core looks great.
